A Dirty Dozen with ERIC GYNAN from LEAVING EDEN – September 2022

According to a recent press: “There is no “box” for Leaving Eden’s Music. Fronted by the empress of rock, Eve, Leaving Eden is currently on tour in support of their forthcoming album, As Above So Below, which will be released on August 5th via Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal. Hailing from Boston, MA, the group also includes Eric Gynan (Guitar/Vocals), Alyssa Bailey White (Keys/Vocals), Rich Chouinard (Bass/Vocals), and Jake Gynan (Drums), and have already toured the USA, UK & Canada – sharing the stage with hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world.” We get guitarist Eric to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

Leaving Eden’s new album As Above So Below released on August 5, 2022 Dark Star Records/Sony/Universal/worldwide distribution is just as heavy as the previous 11 Albums. There’s lots of melody, harmony and some cool licks and tricks throughout. The song “Green” has already hit the top 200 billboard charts. It’s a little heavy and has some great harmony and melody. I feel like it’s got a good vibe and a great beat. Quick note – titled “Green” because of the lyric line “And the sky turned green in the distance of a dream.” I wasn’t sure why I was writing that when I did but many years later I noticed somewhere in the country the skies were green. Where our songs are pretty much based in reality and lyric driven, this new album gives you insight into how we view things in the world today. With that said, I tried a cool little production trick in the studio on the first song “Jack Hammer.” Towards the end on the last chorus, the music breaks to vocals and guitar. I really wanted the vocals to have a delay that wasn’t an effect that I created within the typical effects that you may have in your arsenal. I wanted to do it naturally in other words. So, Eve, in the other room calls my phone, I record my phone with the really hot vocal mic and I move the phone vocal track a little behind her lead vocal and presto!  Loved how it ended up.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Fortunately there has always been some kind of piano or organ at my fingertips so it really came naturally since I could walk. I was always intrigued. I was also very fortunate to have 2 great grandfathers who both had their own orchestras in Italy and Germany. It’s gotta be in the blood.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

My older brother always had music from bands and I just relentlessly learned so many songs. Lots of time spent alone practicing, knowing it had to be done. I loved Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, anything new that was heavy. But also I’ve always loved ELO, Rod Stewart, Simon and Garfunkel, the Eagles, stuff like that.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Lindsey Buckingham – Fleetwood Mac. The funny thing is I never really liked Fleetwood Mac. I used to like the heavy shit. I typically didn’t like stuff that was in the middle. But as a recording engineer I listen to all of the production and all of the songs so I’m not just sitting back and enjoying a good song, I’m listening to all the instruments, the mix and the tone and as I listened I became so impressed with so much music that I had missed the first time around. I learned to appreciate Lindsey Buckingham. Especially his finger picking. I’d love to hang out and play some guitar with him and record some music, absolutely.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

Keep up with Current affairs, a little smoke and drink, and a good movie. We have guests, or we go over to other friends’ houses like our tour managers house Bryant and Debbie Jenkins. Their place is like the Garden of Eden, a nice swim, a little bit of fresh air and I’m good to go.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Leaving Eden’s music can be quite heavy and across the spectrum to light and acoustic. It’s an eclectic mix of various genres so really I always say there is no box for Leaving Eden.  We’ve got a lot of harmony and melody going on as well.  I always say Leaving Eden is best seen live. I can’t think of a cringe worthy statement.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

I think the ladies enjoy cooking. Jake probably serves the drinks more than anybody else.  I think all of us grab acoustic guitars or Alyssa will grab her keyboard with batteries in it, if we’re sitting around a campfire or something, but probably, Rick grabs an acoustic guitar first.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Leaving Eden has toured the USA, UK, & Canada sharing the stage with hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world, so for me, people that have since passed away that I’ve shared the stage with really holds a deep place in my heart because you’ll never have that opportunity again. People like Dimebag, his brother Vinnie, Ronnie James Dio, Scott Weiland and it was all such an honor for me and always will be.  We definitely learned the drill from some of these great bands. We watched and learned.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

I think traveling because that’s one of the most important things about playing music Is you get to meet so many cool people that you could’ve never possibly met in 1 million years before.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

First part of the question, “What is your bulletin, what do you stand for?” I stand for the common good and well-being of individuals. For the second part, not tired of answering a question but more of having to copy and paste certain questions that are always asked.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I think probably running into some of the snakes in the business. Some of them can be really good at what they do, very slimy indeed.

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would’ve loved to be in any of the Beatles recording sessions. It’s funny because when I was a kid I was never a fan of the Beatles either. Then again I started listening to the production at some point and really could appreciate all of the cool things they did with very little compared to today’s standards in the studio.

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Category: Interviews